Feast on Amaya's Friday Super Buffet


Often stressed out in our busy work week, there’s no better way to wind down for the weekend than with a treat of a leisurely feast.

Executive Sous Chef Patrick Ooi and the able culinary
team at Amaya Food Gallery, Amari Johor Baru
So every Friday from now till end October, there’s an exciting Friday Super Buffet to savour at the Amaya Food Gallery.

Since its inception, this restaurant in Amari Johor Baru has earned a reputation for its sumptuous spreads and I’m here again to sample the buffet spread prepared by Executive Sous Chef, Patrick Ooi and his culinary team.

With culinary experience earned from a career with international brand hotels, Chef Patrick is no stranger to presenting a feast that ranges from appetisers, salads, main course items to desserts.

Chef Patrick leads us on a walk-through to see the exciting spread and candidly responds as I quiz him about the various featured dishes.

Chef Patrick showing off the rich
broth in the Double-Boiled
Winter Melon Soup
Having been to this restaurant numerous times, I’m still impressed with the interesting layout with sections dedicated to Thai, Japanese, Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cuisine, as well as for beverages, fresh fruits and desserts.

I’m familiar with the salad bar for fresh greens and the sashimi section that serves chilled raw fish fillets along with condiments like wasabi with soya sauce and pickled ginger.

Among the appetizers, I spot something different.

Looking closer, I see choices like Cured Beetroot Salmon Tartare with Avocado Cucumber, Thai Spicy Grilled Beef with Glass Noodles, Roasted Potato Salad with Chicken Ham and Mustard besides ingredients for popular Rojak to enjoy with homemade sauce and ground peanuts.

Chef Patrick is clearly proud of his own recipe for Chinese broth, a Double-Boiled Winter Melon Soup brewed with White Fungus and free-range Chicken.

He scoops up the broth to show how it is prepared, rich with natural ingredients.

Alternatively, there is another choice of cream soup in the Basil Tomato Shellfish Bisque.

Hong Kong Roasted Duck in Chinese herbal flavours
He recommends that we start with hot snacks like Vegetable Samosa topped with chilli sauce, raita yoghurt and condiments as well as Thai Pandan Chicken Rolls.

For diners who enjoy something local, the buffet offers juicy Rendang Beef Short Ribs to savour with Lontong Rice and Toasted Coconut Kerisik.

Among the hot food, there are Wok-fried Fresh Water Prawns Tom Yam style, Malay recipe Caramel Venison Ribs, Tandoori Chicken Tika along with rice and noodles like Wok-fried Mee Sua with fresh shrimps and chicken, and Indonesian fried rice.

Another noodle choice is Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodles in soup, served at a Do-It-Yourself counter.

Just add to your noodles, ingredients like fresh prawns, fish cake, wedges of hardboiled eggs, kangkong (water spinach, water convolvulus or morning glory) and bean sprouts before you top it off with hot soup, a dash of chilli paste and a sprinkle of fried shallots.

Chef Patrick carving the Sea Salt crusted
Norwegian Salmon Fillet 
Some of the hot favourites from this super buffet must be the freshly-grilled skewers of satay to savour with peanut sauce and condiments, and the Hong Kong Roasted Duck in Chinese herbal flavours.

Chef Patrick then introduces us to the fish dish – Sea Salt crusted Norwegian Salmon Fillet – an entire fish served with a drizzle of juice from lemon wedges and citrus emulsion.

Another exciting choice must be the Grilled Premium Marbling Beef grilled ala minute (upon request) and served with your choice of Au Jus, Black Peppercorn or Mushroom Sauces.

Just pick your choice of sauce and tell the chef your preference for meat doneness to let him grill and serve it to you!

Tender Leg of Lamb to savour wrapped in Tortilla bread
with fresh lettuce, onions and condiments
If you enjoy lamb, then the chef’s recommendation for you must be the tender, 12-hour slow-cooked Leg of Lamb to savour, wrapped in Tortilla bread along with condiments like fresh lettuce and onions.

Amaya Food Gallery even has a special Kids Corner where kids can play and enjoy their own little buffet of favourite food like Breaded Fish Fingers, Tempura Chicken Nuggets and Cheesy Potato Wedges.

Over at the dessert section, Pastry Chef Syeriff Hafizal, has prepared a range of tempting cakes and pastries to let diners end their meal sweetly.

My attention is drawn to the handbags – Yes, lady’s handbags – not one or two but three of them, perched on pedestals among the delightful array of desserts!

The cake-handbags by Pastry Chef Syeriff Hafizal
are displayed among the delightful array of desserts
Smiling modestly, Chef Syeriff is pleased that his cake-handbags are attracting interest but tells me that they are for display only.

Instead, he directs my attention to the Lemon Meringue Tarts, Pandan Chiffon Cake, Thai Red Rubies, Oreo Cheesecake and Raspberry Lychee Rose Gateau.

There are also local favourites like assorted Malay kuih – Kuih Tepong Pelita, Seri Muka, Kuih Ketayap, Kuih Lapis, Kuih Lopes, Kuih Bingka Ubi – and freshly-made Apam Balik or grilled pancakes filled with a spread of sugary crushed peanuts.

There are more dessert choices from warm Apple Crumble drizzled with Vanilla Sauce to warm Bubur Pulut Hitam (black glutinous rice), Bubur Cha-Cha with bananas to chilled Soya Bean Curd with Longan, Mango Sticky Rice and Glutinous Rice Balls filled with crushed peanuts.

Pastry Chef Syeriff preparing
traditional Apam Balik pancakes
Ah! Choices! Choices! So many choices even just for desserts.

No wonder this sumptuous spread is dubbed the Friday Super Buffet!

The Friday Super Buffet dinner is served from 6.30pm to 10.30pm at RM138 nett per person with 50% off this price for the second person. This discount also applies to children aged between six to 12 years old.

For a pre-weekend treat, Amaya Food Gallery also serves a dinner buffet spread on Thursday prepared in the theme, Around The World, featuring cuisine from all around the world!

And on Saturday night, Amaya Food Gallery serves a meat-lovers dinner buffet in the theme, Carvery & Panggang (grilled) where a range of meats are freshly prepared to your taste.

Amaya Food Gallery is on Level 6, the lobby level of Amari Johor Baru at No. 82-C Jalan Trus, 80000 Johor Baru. 

For reservations, Tel: 607 – 266 8888 or email: amaya.johorbahru@amari.com. 

For more info, visit website: www.amari.com

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